IN EMOTIONAL scenes from tonight’s 22 Kids & A Baby, we saw Katie Radford’s boyfriend Connor Carter get candid when he found out he was going to be a father.
In the latest episode of the Channel 5 series, which follows Britain’s Biggest Family, then 21-year-old Katie revealed all on navigating pregnancy.
After being together for six years, the couple discovered news that left them too stunned to speak – Katie was expecting their first child.
Clearly in shock, Connor admitted: “I didn’t think I’d ever be a young dad…scared.”
To which Katie recognised: “It is a big change. I’m scared. I don’t think anyone’s ever ready for a kid.”
Connor then confessed: “I don’t really do well with change, I don’t like it. I’m still a kid, I’ve not grown up yet.
“I don’t think I’m ready now, I don’t think in five years time I’d be ready, but it’s something that’s going to have to change really.”
But Katie was equally as stunned, as she chimed in: “I didn’t believe it at first. I think I must’ve done 10 tests, I just didn’t believe it.”
As part of the young couple’s biggest test yet, dad-of-22 Noel, 54, recognised: “As a young lad, you think, I’ve got my whole life ahead of me, can’t wait to get my car, can’t wait to go on all these lads’ holidays and all the rest of it, and then next thing you know, you’re gonna have the responsibility of being a parent all of a sudden so you have to make a massive life change and it comes as a bit of a shock.
“I think having a child when you’re young is challenging on any relationship, but also at the same time I think it strengthens your relationship, you’re properly tested by having a baby.”
To which Sue, 49, recognised: “I think if you can get through having a baby and all the challenges that throws at you, especially the first few months, then you’ve cracked it, haven’t you?”
But later in the episode, things got very overwhelming for 21-year-old Connor whilst pram shopping with Sue and Noel.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Furious mum-of-22 Sue Radford dragged from home in her PJs as husband Noel can’t work out how to charge £95k Porsche” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6367120426112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]The young dad-to-be shared: “I can’t imagine pushing a pram, it just feels a bit weird.
“I thought I was a few years off this yet. Didn’t expect it to be honest.
“I don’t really know how to feel. I am excited but I’m also nervous.
“I didn’t ever think I’d be here to be honest, not for a few years. Gonna have a lot of responsibility and I don’t like having it.”
[boxout headline=”How many people are in the Radford family? ” featured-image=”32697834″]Sue and Noel Radford have 22 children and 11 grandchildren.
- Noel – Born December 24, 1970
- Sue – Born March 22, 1975
- Chris – Born May 7, 1989 – married to Nicole Spencer and have three children: Maisie (June 3, 2017), Jacob (July 31, 2019), and Oaklyn, September 21, 2021). He is a stepdad to Nicole’s four kids
- Sophie – Born December 13, 1993– married to Joe Broadley and have three children: Daisy (August 27, 2012), Ayprill (October 13, 2014) and Leo, (December 24, 2015)
- Chloe – Born July 31, 1995– dating Jake Wallace and have one child: Mila (July 23, 2022), and due to have baby number two in 2025
- Jack – Born April 9, 1997
- Daniel – Born March 3, 1999
- Luke – Born October 1, 2000
- Millie – Born August 29, 2001 – married to Harley Passmore and have three children: Ophelia (September 12, 2020), Chester (February 20, 2022), and Elodie (September 19, 2023)
- Katie – Born November 14, 2002 – dating Connor Carter and have baby Ronnie (October 8, 2024)
- James – Born October 17, 2003
- Ellie – Born May 6, 2005
- Aimee – Born April 21, 2006
- Josh – Born July 3, 2007
- Max – Born December 11, 2008
- Tillie – Born May 2, 2010
- Oscar – Born October 22, 2011
- Casper – Born October 3, 2012
- Alfie – Stillborn July 6, 2014
- Hallie – Born June 3, 2015
- Phoebe – Born July 24, 2016
- Archie – Born September 18, 2017
- Bonnie – Born November 6, 2018
- Heidie – Born April 3, 2020
Katie then chimed in: “I think finding out we’re going to be parents was a lot harder for Connor.
“I’ve obviously grown up with siblings and my siblings have had babies, but Connor has not really been around babies, so it is gonna be a big shock for him.”
Struggling to process the major news, Connor acknowledged: “I do get overwhelmed quite often as the pregnancy has gone on, one minute I feel like I’ve come to terms with it and the next minute I don’t think I have.
“Worrying and being scared because I’ve got a baby to provide for. Just not being a great dad, that’s what I’m more scared of, I’m still quite young myself, I didn’t ever expect to be a young parent.”
[quote credit=”Connor Carter”]I didn’t ever think I’d be here to be honest, not for a few years. Gonna have a lot of responsibility and I don’t like having it[/quote]To which Sue recognised: “There’s always two people to consider in a pregnancy. I think sometimes for the man, they find it harder to deal with because they’re not the ones growing the baby either but they’re the ones that struggle with it more worrying about how they’re going to manage.”
Later in the episode, whilst Sue and Noel headed off to influencer hotspot Dubai for a lavish getaway to celebrate their 32 year anniversary, Katie went into labour – 19 days early.
But as she struggled to get hold of her parents, a panicked Katie said: “I can’t get through to mum and dad, none of my messages are delivering. I’m absolutely petrified. It’s scary.”
Upon landing in Dubai to the news that Katie had gone into labour, Sue and Noel booked the first flight back to Manchester.
But just over two hours before their flight was due to land, Katie and Connor’s baby Ronnie was born, after 18 hours in labour.
Ronnie Hudson Carter was born on October 8, 2024, weighing 7lbs 11oz.
In a sweet Instagram announcement after the birth, Katie wrote: ‘Tuesday 8th October born at 5:03PM weighing 7:11 the day you changed our lives forever little man mummy and daddy love you so much RONNIE HUDSON CARTER.’
